Floral easel



June 14, 1960 G. R. LOTZ FLORAL EASEL Filed Aug. 21, 1956 INVENTOR.

FLQRAL EASEL Gerald R. Lotz, 603 S. Main St., Edinburg, Ind.

Filed Aug. 21, 1956, Ser. No. 605,337

1 Claim. c1. 24827.8)

This invention relates to an easel, and more particularly to a collapsible floral easel.

It is the objectof my invention to provide a collapsible easel highly resistant to being overturned, and which can be adjusted to present its display material at a plurality of viewing angles. It is the object of my invention to provide an inexpensive easel of simple construction which can be easily and rapidly set up from a collapsed storage condition.

In accordance with my invention there is provided a display-holding frame having a pair of ground engaging legs conveniently interconnected by suitable cross arm members. Said frame is supported in a substantially upright display-position by means of a second frame structure having a pair of ground-engaging legs interconnected by a cross arm member. Desirably, the legs on both frames diverge to form a broad ground-engaging base.

The two frames are interconnected by a strut extending upwardly from the second frame structure cross arm and pivotally joined to a cross arm member on said displayholding frame. A cross-brace pivotally mounted on one of said frames and slidably received on the other is adapted to limit the pivotal movement of said frames This pivotal limitation permits either of said frames to be held at a plurality of inclinations, thereby presenting the display material at a plurality of viewing angles.

The accompanying drawing illustrates my invention:

Fig. l is an isometric view of my invention in an extended uncollapsed position;

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of my invention in a collapsed position; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a modified form of my invention.

Conveniently, my entire easel structure may be formed of wire stock of any suitable gauge sufficiently strong to withstand the Weight of the article to be displayed.

As shown in Fig. l, the front portion of my easel is a generally A-shaped display-holding frame. Said frame structure is comprised of a pair of legs 1d diverging at an acute angle to form an apex 12 at the top of said frame. The legs are interconnected at a point midway of their length by a cross arm 14 secured to each of said legs by Welding or any other suitable securing means. Further connection between said legs is provided by a cross member 16 secured to each of said legs near the apex l2. Conveniently, the mid-portion of the cross member 16 is provided with a downwardly extending loop forming an eyelet 18.

The rearward portion of my easel is a generally Y- shaped supporting frame. This frame structure is comprised of a pair of diverging legs 26 interconnected at their upper ends by a cross arm 22. Rigidly secured at 234,765 Faiented June 1 i, 1950 the mid-point of the arm 22 is a vertically extending strut 24 having a loop 26 at its upper end. Said loop engages the eyelet 18 to form a pivotal connection for extending the two frame structures. This pivotal connection per mits the two frames to be brought together in a collapsed storage position, or extended to present the easel in a substantially upright display-position.

The degree of pivotal movement of the two frames is limited and controlled by a cross-brace 23 interconnectiug said frames. The brace 25% is pivotally mounted on the forward display-holding frame by loops 3d extending around the cross arm 1 adjacent each of its ends. The mid-portion of said brace is formed to provide a loop 32 encircling the strut 24, so that said loop may slide along said strut as the easel is either collapsed or extended. Desirably, the loop 52 may be formed to angle downwardly producing a slight bind on the strut 24 for holding the two frames in intermediate positions of extension. This binding action permits either of the frames to be held at a plurality of angles with respect to the ground, thereby holding the display material in any desired angle of viewing.

As shown in Fig. 3, in a modified form of my invention, a hook 34 is secured at the apex 12 of the front frame structure. Said hook and the inclining face of the front frame structure provide a support for holding any material to be displayed on the easel.

To use my easel, the front and rear frames are extended, pivoting about the hook 26 and the eyelet 18. This extension causes the brace 28 to move downwardly along the strut 24- to hold said frames extended at any desired degree of angularity. All four of the ground engaging legs may then be inserted into the ground, stabilizing the easel and making it highly resistant to being overturned. Any article to be displayed may then be secured on the display-holding frame by any convenient securing means, such as by Wiring.

1 claim as my invention:

A collapsible easel, comprising a first frame member of a generally A-shape having a cross member, a second frame member of generally inverted Y-shape with one end of the stem of the Y joined to the arms thereof generaily level with the cross member on said first frame and the opposite end of said stem pivotally connected to said first frame member adiacent the top thereof, the arms of said second frame member diverging from the end of the stem, and a V-shaped brace pivoted to the cross member of said first frame member adjacent the ends of such cross member and looped at its apex about the stem of said second frame member to slide upwardly on said stem during collapsing and downwardly thereon during extension to engage against the diverging arms of said second frame as a stop to lock said frames in extended position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 269,683 Koehl Dec. 26, 1882 493,936 Mitchell Mar. 21, 1893 887,152 Timberlake May 12, 1908 1,594,592 Birum Aug. 3, 1926 1,659,791 Thorpe Feb. 21, 1928 1,958,716 Roach et al May 15, 1934 2,289,729 Robinson et a1 July 14, 1942, 2,504,220 Ohlandt Apr. 18, 1950 

